Bijou announces launch in the Canadian market
Bijou wine to be available in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia by spring 2021 – Rosé wine Canada launch
This spring sees us, hit the Canadian shelves with a number of exciting wines. From April 2021, three different products from Bijou’s range will be available in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia. We are a quality-driven wine producer, specialising in rosé from the regions of Languedoc and Provence. Our award-winning rosés are currently available worldwide in over 30 countries across 5 continents. This year we broaden our distribution partnering with Trialto and Noble Estates across Canada.
Bijou de Sophie Valrose rosé – IGP Coteaux de Béziers, 2020
On May 15th, Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose will release in the state of Ontario. Our flagship rosé, Sophie Valrose, is produced with a mixture of tradition and innovation, resulting in high-quality and finely elaborated French rosé, par excellence. From the small sub-region of Coteaux de Béziers in Western Languedoc, its grapes benefit from unique characteristics that this small region has to offer. The proximity to the Mediterranean coastline provides the vineyards with cool off-shore winds locally known as the Cers. These winds are extremely valuable to improving humidity levels and circulation, particularly during the summer heat. Additionally, they deposit an array of sea salts and minerals into the soils which enhance the beautiful minerality of the wines produced here. For this noble rosé, the grapes are sourced from old bush vines with large rolled stones that absorb and slowly radiate some heat, which helps to steady the grapes’ ripening.
We have a strong stance towards sustainable production. The blend includes Caladoc; a crossing of Grenache and Malbec with unique characteristics. This variety is particularly resistant to drought and mildew; very desirable attributes in a changing climate. Moreover, Caladoc offers a flavour profile similar to Grenache adding more depth and floral notes to the wine. Equally, we take a sustainable approach in the vineyards. Our growers in the Coteaux de Béziers are HEV (High Environmental Value) Level 3 certified; outstanding achievement in terms of sustainability. Finally, the name Sophie Valrose was inspired by an extraordinary lady who worked in the Languedoc vineyards during the late 19th century. She fought for women’s rights in the vineyards and became something of a local hero. Her story is shared on the back of every bottle, and in her honour, the grapes are sourced from low yielding, handpicked bush vines, alike those that Sophie harvested herself many years ago.
Bijou Le Chic 1.5 Pouches, rosé & blanc – IGP Pays d’Oc, 2020
In April, Manitoba will meet our wine in its sustainable and environmentally-friendly format. Bijou Le Chic pouches bring together the quality of our Bijou wine within an innovative and sustainable, yet elegantly designed packaging.
This innovative format has a drastically lower carbon footprint compared to standard 75cl glass bottles. Our 1.5L pouches weigh a mere 100g when empty, whereas standard glass bottles weigh over four times as much and hold half the volume of wine. This huge cutback in packaging weight significantly reduces CO2 emissions during transport. Additionally, the pouches’ flexible and compact design allows approximately twice the volume of wine to be loaded into a shipping container, economising space.
Sustainability aside, the pouch format offers numerous advantages for consumers. The air-tight tap keeps the wine fresh for 30 days once opened, therefore reducing waste. Finally, the built-in handle makes the pouch practical, portable and ideal for outdoor events, such as barbecues, picnics and beach days. The grapes are sourced from selected vineyards in the foothills of the Montagne Noire, around Saint Chinian, Faugères and Coteaux de Languedoc. The Saint-Chinian region is famed for its high volcanic soil composition, bringing notable aromatics to the wines. Bijou Le Chic pouches are available in a crisp Grenache rosé and aromatic Sauvignon Blanc.
Bijou Ciel de Lilac – Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, AOC, 2020
Finally, we introduce Ciel de Lilac to British Columbia. Bijou Ciel de Lilac is an award-winning wine from Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, the home of rosé. Located in the foothills of Mont Sainte Victoire, 400m above sea level, the vines benefit from the diurnal temperature variations. During the high heat of summer, this fluctuation allows the grapes to recuperate at night when temperatures drop – as a result, the grapes have an extended ripening period, resulting in higher quality fruit. Additionally, this area benefits from the Mistral winds. These powerful winds play a crucial role in clearing the cloud cover and ensuring bright, sunny days essential for ripening fruit. This wine’s notable character and aromatics reflect the area teeming with shrubs and herbs such as lavender, rosemary and thyme; revealing the identity of a gastronomic wine that pairs excellently with Charcuterie and most salads.
For more information about our rosé wine Canada launch, please get in touch.
